Combination lock



June 21, 1966 R. E. LEHMAN 3,256,723

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 6, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR @Oscos E Ef/MAN, vase/ RNEY5 June 21, 1966 R, E, LEHMAN 3,256,723

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 6, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /OJCOE Ef/MAA; oceaseq/ Wad/)Z WW/Kf Tr NEYS June 21, 1966 R. E. LEHMAN 3,256,723

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 6, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR /QOJcoE E El-(MAN, leceasew/ El-7 /y /v7d/ve. emew/ -xeoa n;

BY da@ ORNEYJ` June 21, 1966 R, E, Lil-:HMAN 3,256,723

Filed July 6, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 NTOR June 21, 1966 R, E, LEHMAN 3,256,723

COMBINATION LOOK Filed July 6, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR EL 15 ,005:05 EA/MAN, Jcen/ "v /VAQ/E EH/WN, G2G/f WWW 7/MM% ORNEYS United states Parent o 3,256,723 CDMBINATION LOCK Roscoe E. Lehman, deceased, late of Hagerstown, Md., by Marie Lehman, executrix, 2305 Appletree Drive, Hagerstown, Md.

Filed `Iuly 6, 1965, Ser. No. 469,945 11 Claims. (Cl. 70-25) This invention, which relates to combination locks of the type wherein the lock may be opened by the activation of selected digital numbers, is a continuation-in-part of Patent No. 3,192,746, of July 6, 1965. More specifically, the inventi-on relates to a combination lock of such type wherein each of the digital members can be positioned so as to establish the location of at least two tumblers, and further positioned so that when unlocking occurs contact between the digital members and tumblers is prevented. The arrangement of the invention is such as to provide a high degree of security against known methods of deciphering combination locks.

The invention also relates to a lock design wherein a hasp is secured to be flush with and firmly secured between the lock and a surface from which detachable shackle means extend, particularly from the surface of cabinets and the like which are secured by a shackle and hasp assembly.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high security combination lock of the type described which can be opened relatively expeditiously through a correct operation of the combination, but which at the same time resists attempts by known means to compromise the combination. y

A further object of the invent-ion is provision of a lock of the type described wherein the shackle is aflxed to a surfaceand a hasp is hel-d by the sh-ackle and lock in a position flush to both the lock and the surface.

Other objects, adaptabilities and capabilities will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the combination lock in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the lock;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the lock with a broken portion;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on lines IV-IV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on lines. V--V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a further sectional view taken on lines VI-VI of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a still further sectional view taken on lines VII--VII of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a further modification of a lock in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the modification shown in FIGURE 8 with a broken portion to show part of the interior of the lock;

FIGURE l0 is a sectonal view taken on lines X-X of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE ll is a further sectional View taken on lines XI-XI of FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 12 is a still further 'sectional vew taken on lines XII-XII of FIGURE l0; and

FIGURE 13 is a bottom view of the modification detached from the shackle assembly with portions broken to show the interior of the lock.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted from FIGURE 1 that the combination lock has a cover 20 with a shackle 21 at one end and at the other a button cap 22 from whence extend a plurality of selector buttons 24. The shackle 21 is received into the lock through a shackle cap 25 and the longer extension 21a of the shackle lis retained by a lock ring 26 which, in turn, is limited in its upward movement by a locking key 27. The shackle cap 25 compris-es a flat disc part 25a which is integral with or firmly secured to a cylindrical skirt 25h. The skirt 25b has a longitudinal slot through which the locking pin 27 extends to be rece-ived by a longitudinal recess 20a in the cover 20. Opposite the vertical slot in skirt 25b is a horizontal slot which receives a retainer key 30. The functon of the key 3E) is to prevent the shackle 21 being removed from the cover 20 when unlocking occurs.

The shackle 21 is secured by shaft gatesv 31a and 31b which are urged apart by a pair of open helical compression springs 32a and 32b. The shaft gates 31a and 31h are held apart by a center shaft 34. Below the shaft gates 31a and 3 1b is a cancel block 35 which surrounds on its' upper end the center shaft 34 and is urged against the shaft gates 31m and 31h by an open helical compression spring 36 which presses at its lower end against a sliding lock 37. It will be appreciated that when the shaft gates 31a and 31b are moved downwardly by movement of the shackle 21, the cancel block 35 also moves in the same direction to return all of the selectors 40 to the downward position as seen for the selector to the right in FIGURE 4.

.The sliding lock 37 is secured to the center shaft 34 by means of a shaft pin 41. A compression spring 42, which is interposed between the sliding lock 37 and a washer 44, urges the sliding lock 37 inta direction opposite to that urged by the spring 36. The washer 44, in turn, bears against a selector case 45 which is secured within the cover 20 in its upper aspect by a lock spring 46 and in a lower aspect against a shoulder 48 in the cover 20. The selector case also bears against the retainer 47, which is retained in its axial position by the lower end of the center shaft 34 and shaft pin 50. The `button cap 22 is secured to the retainer 47 by means of flat-head screws 51 or other suitable means as indicated in FIGURE 7. A shaft pin 52 limits the axial down- Ward movement of the center shaft 34 with the retainer 47.

With reference now made to FIG. 5, it will be noted that the selector case 45 surrounds selector 40 and a slot 54 exists on either side of the center shaft 34. When the shaft pin 52 is aligned with the slot 54, then, and only then, can the center shaft 34 be moved downwardly. It will be recognized that the selector'buttons 24, the button cap 22 and the-retainer 47 rotate as a unit relative to the cover, but that such rotation is restricted by the limits imposed upon the shaft pin 52 to turn within the `selector case 45. Arrows 55 in FIG- URE 5 indicate the limits of the movement of the shaft pin 52.

The cover 20 has in its lower part, as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, a recess with a detent spring 57 which urges a detent comprising a steel ball outwardly and against the spring and button retainer 47. It will be understood, however, that the detent 60 is retained within its recess in the cover 20 in a manner not to become dislodged therefrom even though the retainer 47 mayA be moved from its abutting relationship with the end of cover 20 and selector case 45. The selector buttons 24 are urged towards theA button cap 22 by means of compression springs 56. The retainer 47 acts, as will be noted from the drawings, as a base for the springs 56 and has three apertures or recesses along its periphery, to Wit: 61, 62 and 64, as shown in FIGURE 7.

The selectors 40 have a pair of opposed upper clearance seats 65 and a further pair of opposed lower turnbler seats 66. The lower portions of the selectors have two pairs of opposed ilat areas so that the cross section in this portion of the selector is roughly a square. Such flat portions bear against a rubber O-ring 67 which retains the selectors 40 so that either the upper clearance seats 65 or the lower clearance seats 66 are disposed radially where they may receive the associated tumblers 70.

With reference to FIGURE 4, it wil-l be noted that the sliding lock 37 is prevented from moving unless the correct tumbler clearance seat 65 or 66 is adjacent its tumbler 70. When, however, all such seats are correctly positioned adjacent the respective tumblers 70, the sliding lock 37 may move downwardly (provided that the shaft pin 52 in the correct position) whereby the shaft gates 31a and 31b are disengaged from the center shaft 34 to permit release of the shackle 21.

By comparison of FIGURES 3 and 5, it will be noted that there are twice as many selectors 40 as selector buttons 24. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the button cap 22 must be moved from a first position to a second position whereby in one position or the other the selector buttons 24 are disposed to actuate each of the selectors 40. These positions are easily located in this embodiment inasumch as the detent 60 engages the aperture 64 in the first position and the aperture 62 in the second position to engage all of the selectors 20. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the impedance to movement of the selectors 40 by the tumblers 70 is insignificant compared to that afforded by the rubber O-ring 67 and spring 56. Moreover, this impedance cannot be increased by manually stressing the selector cap 22 since movement of the center shaft 34 is limited by the shaft pin 52 except in the position where the shaft pin 52 is received in slot 54. However, in such position the selector buttons 24 are not aligned with the selectors 40 and can only press against the top of selector case 45. This is of importance since it precludes measuring the impedance to movement of the selectors 40 when the tumblers 70 are urged against the selectors 40 by the sliding lock 37 or other means. If desired, the tumblers 70 can be made of a non-magnetic material, and, as such, it is impossible for all practical purposes to decipher the combination of the combination lock by the measurement of the impedance of the selectors 40 to movement.

From FIGURE 5 it will be noted that each of the selectors 40 has a groove 71 at end of which a screwdriver or the like may be conveniently fitted. Depending upon the direction in which the groove 71 is facing,

either the upper clearance seat 65 or the lower clearance seat 66 has its face towards its associated tumbler 70. The combination of the lock can, thus, be conveniently reset simply by the removal of the shackle 21, gates 31a and 3111 and cancel block 35 and changing the disposition of slot 7.1.

In operation, with the combination lock in locked condition the button cap 22 is turned until the aperture 64 receives the detent 60 at which time the selector buttons 24are pressed in accordance with the combination. If an error is made in that a button is pressed that should not be pressed, the shackle 21 may be pushed inwardly in which case the cancel block 35 restores all of the selectors 40 to their original downward position and the combination in such position may be reset. When the combination in the first position has been executed, the aperture 62 is brought into position over the detent 60 by turning the button cap clockwise as seen in FIGURE 7. In such position, the selector buttons 24 are centered over a further set of selectors 40 and the second portion of the combination is executed. Again, in the event a mistake is made, the selectors 40 may be restored to the original position by pushing down on the shackle 21. The button cap is then moved in a further clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 7 to where the aperture 61 coincides with the detent 60 and whereupon the shaft pin 52 is so located as to be receivable by the slot 54. =In this position, with clearance seats 65 or 66 receiving each of the tumblers 70, the button cap 22 is movable downwards with respect to the cover 20 and the center shaft `34 may be disengaged from the shaft gates 31a and 31b. In such condition the Ashackle 21 may be raised at least until its shoulder 72 comes into contact with the retainer key 30. Locking can be accomplished by merely returning the shackle 21 to its locked position and moving the button cap 22 inwardly with respect to the cover so that the center shaft 34 is received between the shaft gates 31a and 3111. It will be understood that by merely pressing shackle 21 while holding the button cap 22 this will occur and in addition the selectors 40 are returned to the lower position by the cancel block 35.

The modification shown in FIGURES 8 through 13 relates primarily to a cabinet lock which is utilized to lock lile cabinets and the like by securing a hasp which, in turn, secures a rod 81 extending through the handles of the filing cabinet to the bottom thereof where it is secured removably in place to the filing cabinet. Such assemblies for filing cabinets are well known and conventional in Government and private enterprise for securing classified matter. merals have been used for parts which are identical to those shown in FIGURES 1-7 and it will be understood that the principle of the combination lock is essentially the same as that previously described.

The shackle assembly 82 includes a pair of shackle pins 84a and 84b which are connected to a plate 85 which is normally the same diameter as a combination lock and is secured to the top of the cabinet 86 by bolts 87 or the like, bolts 87 being covered by the combination lock when same is in position over plate 85. The plate has a longitudinal channel 90 which is designed to receive the hasp 80 so that the hasp is liush on one side with the bottom of the combination lock and on the other with the plate 85 and is also secured against lateral movement. Thus it will be understood that a detachable rigid connection is involved between the hasp 80, the shackle assembly 82, and the combination lock.

The cover 91 has a case retainer 92 secured thereto around its lower portion by means of a retainer spring 94. Within the case retainer 92 is a bushing member 95 which is secured to the case retainer 92 by means of an arc ring 96. A cylindrical portion of the bushing member engages the inner portion of the cover 91 and interiorly provides a sliding surface for the cancel block 100. A further arc ring 101 received in a recess in the upper inner portion of the bushing member 95 restricts upward movement of the cancel block 100. The cover 91 may be telescoped downwardly relative to the case retainer 94 a sufficient distance whereby the selectors 40 are returned to an upward position by the cancel block 100. It will be appreciated that the cover 91 is'urged in an upward position by compression spring 36. The center shaft 34 may be received within a recess in the shackle cap 102. The shackle cap 102 may be either integral with the bushing member 95 or otherwise firmly connected thereto. It contains a pair of openings to receive the shackle pins 84a and 84b. It will be understood that the shackle cap 102 retains the shaft gates 31a and 31h in their correct horizontal disposition and, accordingly, the cancel block which rests on top of the shaft gates is also retained in a horizontal position whereby the cover 91 and lock assembly contained therein including the center shaft 34 moves relative to it when the selectors are returned to the original position by moving same downwardly. As with the previous embodiment, when the shackle pins 84a and 84b engage the shaft gates 31a and 31b, respectively, the lock is secured in place.

For operation, the correct combination of the selectors in the first position may be actuated and the button cap 22 rotated from the first position where the detent 60 en- For this modification the same reference nugages the aperture 64 to the second position where it engages the aperture 62. There the second combination is executed by pressing the predetermined selector buttons, and the button cap 22, together with the selector button 24, the retainer 47, and the center shaft 34 are rotated to the third position wherein detent 60 engages the. aperture 61 whereupon they are moved upwardly to disengage the center shaft 34 from the shaft gates 31a and 31b. The lock may then be removed and the hasp 80 removed from its position over the shackle pins 84a and 84b.

In this particular modiiication the advantages of the combination lock involved are combined with the unique cooperating shackle assembly to pemit a method of securing cabinets which can be expeditiously operated and presents substantial advantage over conventional means presently utilized.

It is to be understood that while preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention is capable of other adaptations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combination lock which comprises a set of axially movable selectors, a selector case carrying said selectors for axial movement, each of said selectors including a tumbler engaging surface and a tumbler clearance seat, a sliding lock member disposed to move relative to said selector case, a plurality of tumblers between said sliding lock member and said selectors, said tumblers selectively engaging said sliding lock member and said surface of said selectors whereby movement of said sliding lock member is restricted, said tumblers selectively receivable by said selector seats whereby said tumblers are disengaged from said sliding lock member, resilient means urging said sliding lock member in the direction of said tumblers engaging said member, a shackle member, a shaft gate member locking said shackle member, said sliding lock member operatively associated with said shaft gate member whereby said shackle member is unlocked by movement of said sliding lock member relative to said tumblers when said tumblers are disengaged from said sliding lock member.

2. A combination lock comprising operatively connected relatively movable members, a plurality of tumblers carried by one of said members engageable by a seating means in other of said members, axially movable selectors mounted in one of said members and engageable with said tumblers to hold said tumblers in engagement with said seating means, said selectors including clearance seats into which said tumblers may recede to be free of said seating means and the member which includes said seating means, a retainer member interconnected to said tumbler carrying member arid movable normally with respect thereto, digital means carried by said retainer member, said digital means being in selectively movable relationship to at least two of said selectors, said digital means imparting axial movement separately to said two selectors either to present clearance seats to said tumblers or to retain same in engagement with said seating means.

3. A combination lock in accordance with claim 2 wherein one of said two selectors is one of a first group of selectors and said other of said two selectors is one of a second group of selectors, said digital means comprising a plurality of selector buttons which in a first position impart axial movementl only to the selectors of said rst group and in a second position impart axial movement only to said selectors of said second group.

4. A combination lock in accordance with claim 3 wherein movable cancelling means are located relative to said selectors, said cancelling means adapted to restore said selectors to their original position after actuation of any or all of them.

5. A combination lock which comprises a casing, a selector case in said casing, an axially movable selector in said case, a selector button extending from said casing, said selector button adapted `to move said selector axially, a resilient means urging said selector button away from said selector, a tumbler clearance seat in said selector, a tumbler associated with said selector case relative to said selector, a sliding lock member disposed to move relative to said selector case parallel to the longitudinal axis of said selector, said tumbler cooperating with said selector and said sliding lock member whereby when said selector is in a rst predetermined position said tumbler restricts movement of said sliding lock member and when said selector is in a second predetermined position said tumbler is receivable by said .tumbler clearance seat and movement of said sliding lock member is unrestricted by said tumbler, and securing release means operatively related to said sliding lock member whereby unrestricted movement of said sliding lock member releases said securing release means.

6. A combination lock which comprises a casing, a movable member included in said casing, a selector case in said casing, rst and second axially movable selectors in said case, a selector member extending from said movable member, a selector button adapted to move said first selector axially when said movable member is in a rst position and to move said second selector axially when said movable member is in a second position, a tumbler clearance seat in each of said selectors, tumbler means carried by said selector case relative to said selectors, a sliding lock member disposed to move relative to said selector, said tumbler means cooperating with said selectors and said sliding lock member whereby when either of said selectors are in the rst disposition said tumbler means restricts movementof said sliding lock member and when both of said selectors are in a second disposition, said tumbler clearance seats receive said tumbler means and movement of said sliding lock members is unrestricted by said tumbler means, and securing release means operatively associated with said sliding loc-k member whereby unrestricted movement of said sliding lock member releases said securing release means.

7. A combination lock in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sliding lock member is movably connected to said movable member, and limiting means is included in said case limiting unrestricted movement of said sliding lock member in said first and second positions, said limiting means being avoided by said sliding lock member in a third position whereby said securing release means is releasable by unrestricted movement of said sliding lock member.

' 8. A combination lock in accordance with claim 6 wherein selector cancel means are included in said casing, said cancel means adapted to move said selectors in a direction opposite to the movement thereof from said selector buttons.

9. A combination lock in accordance with claim 6 wherein shackle means are provided, said securing release means releasably engaging said shackle means, said shackle means comprising a catch means extending normally from a flat surface, an opening in said casing receiving said catch means, and a hasp member receiving said catch member, said hasp member being retained in a position ush with said flat surface by said casing and said shackle means.

10. A combination lock which comprises a cylindrical casing, a selector case in said casing, a selector in said case, said selector axially movable in directions parallel to the sides of said casing, a selector button extending from the top portion of said casing, said selector button adapted to move said selector axially, resilient means urging said selector button away from said selector, a turnbler clerance seat in said selector, tumbler means associated with said selector` case relative to said selector, a sliding lock member disposed to move relative to said selector case and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said selector, said tumbler means cooperating with said selector and said sliding lock member whereby when said selector is in a rst predetermined disposition said tumbler means restricts movement of said sliding lock member and when said selector is in a second predetermined disposition said tumbler means is receivable by said tumbler clearance seat and movement of said sliding lock member is unrestricted by said tumbler means, a shackle means receivable through the bottom of said easing operatively connectable to said sliding lock member whereby when said sliding lock member is moved with said tumbler means in said second predetermined disposition, said shackle member is removable from said casing, said shackle means firmly attached to and extending normally from a surface towards said casing, said shackle means releasably securing said casing to said surface, and a hasp member receiving said shackle means, said hasp member being rmly retained in a position flush with said surface by said casing and said shackle means.

11. A fastening device for access to an enclosure which comprises: a casing; a locking mechanism within said casing; said locking mechanism including a selector case, a movable member, a plurality of selectors in said case, tumbler means associated with said selector, and a bolt member interconnected to said movable members; said selectors being axially movable and each having a tirst position wherein said tumbler means permit said movable member to actuate said bolt to an open position and a second position wherein said tumbler means prevent said movable member from actuating said bolt; shackle means firmly attached to and extending normally from a surface associated with said enclosure, said shackle means including catch means spaced from said surface; an opening in said casing receiving the extending portion of said shackle means including said catch means; said bolt located relative to said opening and interlocked with said catch means in closed position; a hasp received over said shackle means, said hasp flush with and interposed between said surface and said casing; said casing including telescoping means, a selector return actuator in said casing located relative to said selectors; said telescoping means interconnected `to said selector return actuator whereby when said telescoping means is collapsed said selector return actuator moves said selectors to a common relative position in said selector case.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,109 4/1909 Williams et al. 70-79 1,378,381 5/1921 Sachnoff S12-216 1,951,628 3/1934 Prost 70-85 2,468,967 5/1949 Fisher 70-295 2,558,619 5/1951 Lehman 70-295 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. 

2. A COMBINATION LOCK COMPRISING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED RELATIVELY MOVABLE MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF TUMBLERS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE BY A SEATING MEANS IN OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, AXIALLY MOVABLE SELECTORS MOUNTED IN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SID TUMBLERS TO HOLD SAID TUMBLERS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEATING MEANS, SAID SELECTORS INCLUDING CLEARANCE SEATS INTO WHICH SAID TUMBLERS MAY RECEDE TO BE FREE OF SAID SEATING MEANS AND THE MEMBER WHICH INCLUDES SAID SEATING MEANS, A RETAINER MEMBER INTERCONNECTED TO SAID TUMBLER CARRYING MEMBER AND MOVABLE NORMALLY WITH RESPECT THERETO, DIGITAL MEANS CARRIED BY SAID RETAINER MEMBER, SAID DIGITAL MEANS BEING IN SELECTIVELY MOVABLE RELATIONSHIP TO AT LEAST TWO OF SAID SELECTORS, SAID DIGITAL MEANS IMPARTING AXIAL MOVEMENT SEPARATELY TO SAID TWO SELECTORS EITHER TO PRESENT CLEARANCE SEATS TO SAID TUMBLERS OR TO RETAIN SAME IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEATING MEANS. 